Quantum computing is an emerging area with significant potential, especially in the area of optimization problems. Since quantum computing works with a different mechanism than classical computing, the software approach for quantum computing is also different.
In this article, we explain what quantum software is, how it works, and we will showcase the top vendors in the field.
What is quantum software?
2 types of quantum software are:
Software running quantum algorithms
Quantum software development kits and computational platforms provide solutions for end-users. These help end users develop and test their quantum algorithms.
Software enabling quantum computers to perform
Quantum computers have performance issues due to random errors and error-correcting software is built to correct such errors. An error-correcting software or firmware is a low-level program that increases the stability of quantum computers.
What are quantum software development kits?
Quantum Software Development Kit is a tool for developing quantum algorithms that can be used in quantum computers or simulators and emulators which use classical programming languages.
Computational Platforms
Computational platforms provide users access of quantum computers to perform quantum computations via cloud. Building a new quantum computer is a highly expensive investment for many companies. That is why computational platforms make sense for companies to experiment with quantum compting.
The solution is provided by quantum computer companies for developers to test their code on real quantum computers. The following companies and their products are the leading computational platforms for quantum computing.
- Riverlane- DeltaFlow
- Qutech- Quantum Inspire
- IBM- IQ Experience
- Strangeworks- Quantum Computing Platform
- Google – Quantum Playground
- QC Ware- Forge
- Microsoft -LIQUi|>
Quantum Error-Correcting Software and Firmware
As with classical computing, quantum computing requires low-level programming and error correcting algorithms. Q-CTRL is one of the companies working on Quantum firmware. Quantum computers by making error-correcting to make more efficient qubits.
Quantum Benchmark is a company working on quantum error-correcting software and firmware. Quantum Benchmark provides software solutions that enable error characterization, error mitigation, and error correction and performance validation for quantum computing hardware.
How Does Quantum Software Work?
As in classical computing, a problem must be formulated and translated by using quantum software in order to make quantum computers or simulators can solve. Different software systems may have different methods to make them work. D-wave describes how their “Ocean Software” works in the figure below.
There are different layers to perform a quantum software in this figure.
Application
In this process, a problem is defined and transformed to a state that quantum algorithms can solve. Different applications and problem types may have different approaches to model the problem.
Mapping
Data and samples are taken to make the problem solvable by quantum computers.
Uniform Sampler API
A layer that can access the selected sampler.
Samplers
Different samplers can be used to get a sample from the solution of the problem. For example, Simulated annealing or a Hybrid sampler can be used.
Compute Resources
It’s the computing hardware that computes the solution.
What Are The Major Quantum Software Companies?
Not only tech giants are dominating the quantum software market, there are many start up companies which provide software solutions for quantum computing. D-wave 1 is the earliest quantum startup company which is founded at 1999 and also became the first company to sell a commercial quantum computer. D-wave is also one of the leading company that works on software development part of the quantum computers.
A list of the major software companies is below. We have also prepared a comprehensive, sortable list of quantum computing companies.
| Company Name | Quantum Software Solution |
|---|---|
| D-Wave | Ocean |
| Rigetti | Forest |
| IBM | IQ Experience/ Qiskit |
| Cirq/ Quantum Playground |
|
| Microsoft | LIQUi|> / QDK |
| Zapata Computing | Orquestra |
| 1QBit | 1QBit SDK |
| Amazon | Braket SDK |
| Xanadu | Strawberry Fields/ Blackbird |
| Riverlane | DeltaFlow/ Anian |
| Qutech | Quantum Inspire |
| StrangeWorks | Quantum Computing Platform |
| QC Ware | Forge |
| Q-CTRL | Black Opal/ Boulder Opal/ Open Controls |
| Quantum Benchmark | True-Q |
For more on quantum computing
If you are interested in learning more about quantum computing, read:
- Future of Quantum Computing: In-Depth Guide
- In-Depth Guide to Quantum Artificial Intelligence
- 33+ Public & Private Quantum Computing Stocks
Finally, if you have more question, please contact us:
- 1. D-wave.
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